Promoting passenger trains as a transportation alternative in Florida since 1983.  We are citizens who advocate for Amtrak, commuter rail, intercity rail and transit for Florida's future.

Forgot password

What Would It Take for Amtrak to Be Profitable?

07 Jan 2012 12:28 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

From Slate Magazine:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/01/05/what_would_it_mean_for_amtrak_to_quot_be_profitable_quot_.html

--Jackson McQuigg

Comments

  • 10 Jan 2012 6:28 PM | Deleted user
    More train to more places and at least two frequencies on each route for starters. First though, it will be necessary to throw out every politician & lobbyist in the country and deport them Antartica or some other far off place. Then we cut the management of Amtrak to absolute zero, and hire professional railroaders to run it. Then we vary the number of cars on trains as required to meet demand, and to get that equipment, we lease it from suppliers with maintenance built into the lease.
    Do I sound URPIAN enough yet -- I have written off Amtrak in it's present form as viable transportation. I see the loss of the Sunset as just providing Amtrak with another tool to cut service legally or illegally. It is time for private operators to pick over the carcass.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 14 Jan 2012 1:24 PM | Anonymous
    I have expressed some similar remarks to both private & public officials since the formation of Amtrak in the 1970's. Most have be to no avail'. That is one of the reasons I joined NARP and then FCRP while a student at USF in Tampa, FL. I continue to speak with officials and promote currently the Flagler Line project with or without Amtrak. Also support the JTA Commuter Rail - Southeast leg (James Boyd, current project mgr) especially since I'm currently a 60 miles per day commuter from Mandarin (South Jacksonville, FL) to my work at St. Augustine Shore, half-way to Daytona. Yes, I'm frustrated with the current status. We need more than just idle interest to get the wheels on the trains running and trickle down financials to meet grass root demands for low cost and high personal gratification or satisfaction.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 27 Jan 2012 11:28 PM | Anonymous
    Amtrak has a severa shortage of rolling stock. the naysayers of rail will fight this issue the most tooth and nail. I was living in California when voters rejected Proposition 156 in the fall of 1992, which would have extended the use of state gas tax monies for rolling stock acquisition. At that time, the only capital projects that state gas tax monies could be used for were for signals, tracks, and stations. No thanks to the Libertarian party, that falsely scared voters into believing that this would be a tax increase, when it was just merely a simple proposition to allow for more flexibility of funds,it wound up being defeated.
    Link  •  Reply
  Join |  Archives  |  Contact us

               Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers, P.O. Box 30154, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420  www.fcrprail.org
(c) 1983-2024 Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers   
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software